Mike James - Forethought of Gosport

"Our low point on the RTI was just after watching somebody hit Sconce buoy sideways so hard it rang. We thought it was quite funny.

We then followed suit despite a heroic fend-off (gk24 at 3.5 knots sideways), and fortunately there were so many layers of paint on the
buoy we seem to have got away with a yellow line on the side, although there was a quite realistic crunch noise.

The crew was more annoyed than I was , blaming it all on another boat that was in the way - at one time I was more worried about taking out that boat, one of the Classic Cruiser group who finally used his engine to scoot clear about 30 seconds before we used him in a crunchy teak sandwich.

Moral here is when it goes light in the RTI to keep a couple of fenders handy on deck, to make bouncing off stuff less painful. "

Jeremy Miles & Andy Taylor - Scallywag

"We had a clean start - we spotted you [Genghis Khan], Gulf Kilo and Forethought close in on Newtown Harbour from about 30 boat lengths behind.

We then got becalmed off Yarmouth for almost an hour but you seemed to manage to keep it going and got clear - good sailing.

After The Needles we put in deep offshore tacks down to St Cats - we then steered one tack from St Cats to BLB and then the final leg to
Cowes. Great to go inside of the Fort.

Superb day"